Blink Offers Three Printable Notices for ICEd Plug-In Vehicles

Long-time EV drivers are quite familiar with the term "ICEd," which refers to an internal combustion engined vehicle parked in a spot dedicated for plug-ins. Now, the Blink Network of electric car charging is trying to introduce the term to the new wave of EV drivers.

Blink has created three printable notices (PDF: 556 kb) that can be left under the windshield wiper of the offender's vehicle. These notices poke fun at the issue. If "You have ICEd* me!" isn't forward enough, then perhaps Blink's to-the-point notice of "You obviously know nothing about electric vehicles" is the one for you.

Earlier this month, Blink announced that it has surpassed one million EV residential charge events on its Blink Chargers.

By all accounts, the ICEing problem is a rare issue, and the creation of printed notices is more about publicity for Blink than anything else. After all, how many people will really print out the forms, when first of all, 90 percent or more of EV charging takes place at home, and it's extremely rare to see all EV charging spots occupied in any one location? Nonetheless, if you are ever ICEd, then you might be more likely now to take action by leaving your own note—perhaps using even more potent language—on the offending gas vehicle's windshield.

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I disagree that it is not common. Its is VERY common. About 75% of the time I try and publicly charge its blocked. The situation becomes greater when public charging is touted as a way to "extend EV range." How can I extend my range when I can't rely upon the EVSE not being blocked? This weekend I had a trip to the otherside of town and back again. My goal - charge at the parking lot of the first place, giving me enough juice to go around the rest of my trip and stop a the QC to make it home.

Got to the first area? ICEd...no one around to move cars. So I had to resort to a 25 minute trip to my next destination to OVER AN HOUR to drive slow enough to make it to the second place and then QC. When I finally got to the QC, it was ICEd!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I was at low battery warrning with maybe 5 miles of range left) Luckly the people were still in the car and my wife was able to talk them out of moving (they only did it very begrudgingly).

What if we didn't catch the people in time at the QC? What if I actually had a more significant time restraint at my second destination (I missed half of it FYI - but it was a party not an emergency).

ICEing is EXTREMELY rampit in my area. Until the public becomes more informed I will probably be passing out these cars left and right. Because my metro area is spread out, its an absolute must to rely on public charging to cross the metro area.

· James (not verified) · 2 years ago

It helps if the locality signs the spaces properly. Here the municipal spaces indicate that you must have the car plugged in or be subject to fines/towing. That really discourages the ICEers. Private companies that offer charging can still mention towing, if not fines.

I find the Blink notices to be rather aggressive. Some people may park in these spaces out of spite, but others may just be unaware. If your note makes you come off as a jerk, you certainly won't change the behavior of the spiteful people, but you may alienate the uneducated. Better text might be:

"You are parked in an Electric Vehicle only parking space! Electric Vehicles have a limited electric range. By parking here you may prevent someone from being able to get home to his or her family. In the future please remember to look for the signs and do not park in these spaces."